Onomichi Maritime City Promotion Council's efforts tocreate a true maritime city
The Onomichi Maritime City Promotion Council is engaging in efforts to turn Onomichi
into a maritime city. The following list of operations undertaken in 2012 provides aglimpse of those efforts. Several commemorative events were also held in conjunction
with this fiscal year's Sea Festa Onomichi.

* Summer group study program on the maritime industry'Summer project support cruise'
Elementary school students and their guardians were invited to board a cruise boat on
July 24 to participate in a cruise around Mukaishima, Innoshima, Setoda, and otherlocations. The event was held during Sea Festa Onomichi, so children from Hiroshima,Fukuyama, and Mihara were also invited. There were a total of 66 participants, wholearned about the shipyards, monuments, and castle ruins that could be seen from theship.

Photo caption* Children on the boat surprised at big ships
upon observing shipyards from the sea'Captains talk about ships and the sea'
Experienced captains from the Japan Captains' Association were invited as guest
lecturers on July 21 to give a talk about ships and thesea. The event was held in an attempt to arouse interestin the sea in the younger generation, and to improveawareness of Onomichi as a maritime city amongst thegeneral public. Participants asked many questions,
including, "What countries impressed you the most?"
and "Does food on board ships taste good?"
Photo caption* Captains received many questions

'Discovering the wonders of ships'
During this event, tanks and models were used to explain in simple terms why ships
float and how the shape of a ship can change its speed. Through this, the Promotion
Council was able to increase admiration towards ships. The event was held at theOnomichi City Center Mukaishima Kokoro from July 15-16. A total of 158 people
participated.

Photo caption* Children listened intently to the lecturer's
humorous and easy-to-understand explanations
and questions* Learning through ocean sports
An event called 'Learning through ocean sports'
was held on July 22 during Sea Festa Onomichi at
the Onomichi Marine Youth Center. A total of 61
members of the public participated, experiencing
activities

suchascanoeing,bananaboats,ropework, and semaphore.
Photo caption* Participants having fun learning ropework* Shimanami history and culture lesson as a 'floating seminar'
A 'floating seminar', where participants boarded a ferry and sailed around the various
islands around the Shimanami Kaido while participating in a lecture about the culture
and history of their home, was held with the purpose of deepening the understanding ofOnomichi as a maritime city in young people. The event was held on July 1 and saw a
total of 135 participants from the general public. The ferry traveled to Osaki-shimojima(Mitarai), where participants were able to visit
Shiomachi-kan and Otomeza.
Photo caption* This participant feels just like a crewmember with acap and binoculars on the bridge.

Photo caption* Participants listen to the lecturer during thefloating seminar* The people of Onomichi and the sea – The past and present of ferriesThis exhibit focused on the role ferries have played and still play within the daily livesof the residents of Onomichi, which has developed alongside the sea, and also included
some ferries that have become obsolete.
The exhibit was held from April 20 to August 8, 2012 at the Onomichi Chamber ofCommerce Memorial Hall. Many of the ferries used within the city have also been
constructed at local shipyards, and panels were used to display the process of building aferry in an effort to advertise the Maritime City of Onomichi. Other items on display
included items attached to ferries and paper models.
Similar exhibits were also displayed in the Commercial Area on the first floor of theOnomichi Municipal Parkade (Innoshima) and at the Port of Setoda from June 26 toAugust 6. Through cooperation from non-profit organization Setoda Kobo, photographsof ships constructed in the past in the Setoda area were also displayed alongside theexhibit.

Photo caption* The exhibit at the Onomichi Chamber ofCommerce Memorial Hall* The exhibit at Innoshima* The exhibit at Setoda

* Maritime City of Onomichi – The history and culture of a seaside city
This exhibit was held at the Onomichi Cultural Center between July 13 and August 5.
By dispersing information about Onomichi's history and culture regarding the sea toboth the local public and people from all over Japan, our goal was to further enlighten
people about the ideas of the maritime industry. Pieces on exhibit included (1) The
opening of Onomichi Port, (2) Views of Onomichi Bay, a travel diary, (3) Ming-dynasty
envoy ships and Onomichi Port, (4) The Murakami Navy, (5) Onomichi, A bustling portof kitamaebune, (6) Setoda shipping and Mukunoura cargo ships, (7) Onomichi, ashipbuilding town, (8) A tale of ships comingand going (gossip from the red-light district),and (9) Stories from maritime workers. A totalof 2,624 people visited the exhibit over its
duration.
Photo caption* The exhibit at the Onomichi Cultural Center